Palo Alto College

San Antonio, Texas

SMALL TOWN HISTORY: Bandera , Texas

Dane Ball	Spring 1999
History 1302	Hines

Bandera: Cowboy Capital of the World

Bear Springs Nature Blossom

Small towns are the foundation of America and all that it stands for. Chances are that if you randomly ask people for a definition of a small town, you will receive a variety of answers ranging from friendly people to Gossip Center of the World. Quite a broad range, but a range with a very sincere ring to it. Personally, when I think of a small town, I immediately picture the cliched stereotype: one stop light town filled with hicks and pick up trucks. Beyond that, I have always imagined the town to be filled with overly nice and selfless people ready to lend a helping hand at a moments notice. Before having ever visited Bandera, I had my first impression of its citizens by becoming friends with two of my coworkers. Nice, friendly, and above all, Mormon. So on their suggestion alone, I decided to do Bandera as my project. In this project, I hope to give a small overview of Bandera's history, economy, and its people.

Click on pictures to see larger view.

Bandera lies approximately 50 miles northwest of San Antonio in the east central part of Bandera County. Bandera County was formed in 1856, but Bandera settlement was formed in 1853 to construct a town and water-powered lumber mill. The site for this information was on a bend of the Medina River, then occupied by Indians, and later by whites producing shingles (THOL-Peggy Tobin). How Bandera and Bandera County got its name remains a mystery, however, there is a theory I wish to share.

Bandera Pass is a very famous, narrow, V-shaped erosion cut into the long limestone ridge separating the Medina and Guadalupe valleys where many battles between the Spanish and Apache Indians took place. This path has been a successful highway for centuries by many people: Indians, Spaniards, U.S. Army units, Texas Rangers, and of course, cattle drivers. Bandera is a Spanish word for 'Flag' and it is believed to have been named after a Spanish general. Some stories tell of a great battle fought between the Spanish and the Indians somewhere around 1732, where a flag was placed to mark the spot and recognize a Spanish/Apache Treaty (THBOL-Christopher Long). Others say the Spanish general of this army was named Manuel Bandera. While it can be proven that a Manuel Bandera did indeed own land in the Bandera area, no such general has ever been found on any muster roll of the armies of Bexar County. And if General Bandera did fight Indians in Bandera Pass, was it named after him? That remains a mystery.

Bandera began to experience increased activity and settlement after 1856 after it became influenced by the presence of the U.S. Calvary at Camp Verdeq. Bandera then began to serve the needs of the military settlers who took up living in the area. It was after the Civil War that Bandera boomed as it became an area popular for cattle drives up the Western Trail. This is where Bandera began to prosper. Farm boys became cowboys, ranchers built holding pens and signed up as trail bosses, and storekeepers contracted as outfitters. In 1890, a newly built courthouse announced the town's prosperity in the town square (THOL-Peggy Tobin). Bandera was at the height of its growth.

This growth was stunted when a series of floods destroyed sawmills, gins, and businesses in 1900. In fact, most of Bandera remained virtually inaccessible until the San Antonio highway was built in 1936. Most roads into Bandera remained unpaved as late as the 1950's. Despite these setbacks, Bandera again began building its economy when several ranchers began advertising their sites as resorts. By the 1930's, Bandera was well known as a resort offering riverside camps, dance halls, restaurants, and rodeos. Bandera's dude ranches became very popular around this time (The Bandera Bulletin, 5).

Bandera's most prevalent problem has been a natural phenomenon known as flooding. Flooding in 1900 seriously hampered Bandera's economy. On August 8, 1978, Bandera was declared a disaster area by President Carter (Frontier Times Museum). But in times of crisis, the people of Bandera have come together. This is when people can begin to appreciate the selfless attitude of small towns. A small town is having a big family. I interviewed one girl my age and she said, "During the flood several months back, everyone was out and about trying to find people to help" (Johnson, Crystal). She also went on to add that she never plans on leaving Bandera no matter what happens. Crystal Johnson is a Mormon who has lived in Bandera all of her life. Mormon roots can be traced back all the way to 1854 when a group of people led by Lyman Wight reached Bandera. They settled with about 250 people at a place that was known as "Mormon Camp". The Mormons manufactured many things, including chairs, tables, and other furnishings which were usually sold in San Antonio. Before Wight's colony was fully established, he passed away and most of the colony moved either to San Antonio or Utah (THOL-Christopher Long).

Religion has always been a big part in Bandera life, and besides Mormons, there was another influential group in Bandera: the Polish. It was in February of 1855 that sixteen Polish families arrived. Predominately Catholic, they built a small log church which offered Mass and the sacraments once a month. St. Stanislaus Church is the second oldest Polish parish in the United States (THOL-Christopher Long).

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, rear view

Case Steam Tractor, Frontier Times Museum

Bandera has been a successful town from the beginning. It had its ups and its downs, but all above, its family-like community has held it together. The people are friendly in Bandera and all of them are willing to share a story with you about their favorite horse, Ted. Bandera has flourished into a place where tourists like to come. In fact, before coming to this project I was scared to death that the people would laugh at me for carrying around a camera and a note pad. But upon arrival, I discovered that Bandera was full of people just like me! I enjoyed meeting the people of Bandera, and I enjoyed learning about the history of this small town. My father wants to visit this town in the near future, and I am going to be glad to show him around. As far as the future of Bandera, I believe it is going to continue to flourish until one day, people are not going to be able to come to do small town projects for Mr. Hines. One day Bandera will become more of a city. Hopefully, this wonderful town will not lose any of its friendly people nor any of its historical wonders. Bandera has something to offer to everyone and I know anyone coming to visit this town will surely understand.

Code Of The Cow Country

"It don't take such a lot o'laws to keep the rangeland straight,
Nor books to write them in, because there are only six or eight.
The first on is the Welcome sign written deep in Western Hearts--
My camp is yours and yours is mine in all cow country parts.
Treat with respect all womenkind, same as you would your sister.
Take care of neighbors' strays you find, and don't call cowboys "mister".

Shut the pasture gates when passin' thru and, takin' all in all,
Be jest as rough as pleases you but never mean or small.
Talk straight, shoot straight, an' never break you word to man nor hoss.
It don't take law nor pedigree to live the best you can;
These few is all it takes to be a cowboy an --- a Man!"

S. Omar Barker

Old County Courthouse, now the Water Management Bldg.

Bibliography
Morris, Eleanor S. Texas Hill Country Book. Berkshire House Publishers; Lee, 1997.

Talley, Mike. Texas The 1998 State Travel Guide. R.R. Donnelly and Sons, 1998.

Bandera, Texas

The Bandera Bulletin---1999 Spring/Summer Visitors Guide

Frontier Times Museum, was also used.

People: Thompson, Staci, and Johnson, Crystal

Water Tower with several of Bandera's well known restaurants.

Return to Small Town Research Projects Index